Well folks, here is the beginning of the end. Josh will face one of his hardest challenges this week on his way to becoming a US Marine. It's called The Crucible. If you're not familiar with it, here's a brief run down on some of the obstacles these guys are having to go through. This is a little long, so please bear with me.
For 54 straight hours, recruits’ endurance, teamwork and skills will be pushed to the limit. Through perseverance and courage, they will finish as platoons and earn the title of US Marine.
The Crucible emphasizes trainee teamwork under stress.
They get two-and-a-half MREs and they are responsible for rationing out the food to themselves. Then they are put them through tough physical activities like road marches and night infiltration courses. They march about 40 miles in those 54 hours
The Crucible begins at 2 a.m. with a six-mile road march from their barracks to Page Airfield, the Crucible site. Once there, recruits place their gear in huts and prepare for the first of four four-hour events. Each event has a number of "warrior stations" that the team of recruits must work together to overcome or solve. Each station is named for a Marine hero and the drill instructor has a recruit read a brief explanation of how the hero's actions exemplify the Corps and its values.
One warrior station is built around an enemy-mined rope bridge that the recruits must cross with their gear and ammunition boxes. They have only a couple of short ropes and their personal gear to solve the problem. At another event, recruits run into firing positions and engage pop-up targets with 10 rounds in two magazines. Recruit teams battle each other with pugil sticks in yet another event.
The recruits grab food and water when they can. After the first two events comes a five-mile night march. The recruits hit the rack for four hours of sleep, then begin another day and finish the final two events.
At the end of the second day, the recruits go through a night infiltration course and then hit the rack for another four hours. When they get up, they face a nine-mile march and the end of the Crucible.
The march begins at 4 a.m. and, at first, is done quietly. Recruits limp along, because no one wants to drop out this close to the end.
As the sun rises, the recruits cross DI Bridge. Once across, the drill instructors start Jody calls and the recruits join in. As they get closer to the main base, the Jody calls get louder until they reach the Parade Deck. The recruits form up around a half-size replica of the Marine Corps Memorial -- also known as the Iwo Jima Memorial. There, a significant transformation takes place.
A color guard raises the flag on the memorial. The chaplain reads a prayer specifically written for the finish of the Crucible, and the company first sergeant addresses the recruits. Then the drill instructors present each of their recruits with the Marine Corps insignia -- the eagle, globe and anchor. He shakes their hands and calls them "Marine" for the first time. Many accept the honor with tears streaming down their faces.
The YUKU group that I am a member of have started a prayer chain to help these young men along. They will be getting started on June 30th @ 2:00 AM and ending July 2nd at approx 7:00 AM. If you have a few moments during that time, if you would, please send up some prayers for these fine young men. I'll also be leaving a light burning, so my son can find his way back.
Well folks, here is the beginning of the end. Josh will face one of his hardest challenges this week on his way to becoming a US Marine. It's called The Crucible. If you're not familiar with it, here's a brief run down on some of the obstacles these guys are having to go through. This is a little long, so please bear with me.
And here is a picture of the finished product. I sure hope he likes it, because it has definitely been a labor of love. Next week the Crucible will start for Quebec Company. If everyone could just say a short prayer during the grueling 54 hours these guys have to go through, I sure would appreciate it. I'll be leaving my light on for them to find their way home on next Thursday morning.
